Apologies

Councillor Elaine Robertson
was unable to attend because weather conditions made ferry service uncertain.

Minutes
of Meeting held 17 November 2004

Proposed
by Mairi Perkins, seconded by Donnie MacCormick and agreed that minutes of the
meeting held 17 November 2004 be adopted as a correct record.

Matters
Arising from Minutes of Meeting Held 06 October 2004

Secretary read out letter
received from Ann Sanderson with respect to Salen road maintenance. Secretary
also read out a reply received from Neil Brown, A&BC Area Roads Manager,
which set out A&B Council’s position in relation to maintenance of roads
on Lismore. It was reported that Bill Weston, A&BC’s Chief Roads Engineer
had been to the island to make an inspection and was preparing a report. Archie
MacGillivray reported that he had received instructions, as A&BC’s
contractor, to fill potholes and make good edge damage to most lengths of
Lismore roads.

Lismore Ferry Services

Chair reported that
Councillor Robertson had received information from George Lyon on 16.12.04 that
CalMac Lismore service would use the vessel displaced by a new ferry on the
Cumbrae – Largs route from 2005/06.

No response had been
received from the Minister for Transport to the LCC letter of 20.11.04 seeking
answers to a number of specific questions. The Executive had advised secretary
that a response is scheduled for receipt by 29.12.04.

Agreed that no further
action be taken on future ferry service options until response received from
Nicol Stephen.

Secretary had circulated
extracts from the recently published consultation paper on
Clyde
and Hebrides Ferry Services Draft Service Specification. Further copies of the
full document had been requested and would be circulated to members as soon as
received. A copy would be placed in the shop for public perusal.

Concern was expressed about
the safety of the manning levels on the Point – Port Appin ferry. It was
stated that the licence under which the ferry operated required a crew of two.
Secretary to write to A&BC asking for reassurance on the issue of the safe
operation of this ferry, with particular reference to operations during the
hours of darkness.

In response to a request
from the Secretary, members confirmed that there were no outstanding issues
concerning the conduct of the recent Ferry Services Survey requiring
investigation by A&BC and that the matter was now closed.

Transport Needs Survey

Chair reported on meeting
of North Argyll Transport Forum, which she had recently attended. She had
learned that the Forum expected to be able to secure funding for a survey of
transport needs of residents of Lismore and would be willing to arrange for an
independent body to undertake such a survey.

Members decided to postpone
further consideration of this matter until the next meeting.

Petrol Supplies

Secretary reported on a
recent telephone conversation he had had with Duncan Gunn, following the letter
written by LCC about the security of petrol supplies to the island. Mr. Gunn had
advised that whilst his supplier had faced a depot facility problem, which had
been overcome for the time being, he expected to continue to receive supplies
and to provide the customary service to Lismore. He had explained the marginal
profitability of petrol sales at his garage and indicated that he would be
obliged to keep that aspect of his business under review. Mr. Gunn undertook to
advise the Community Council well in advance of any anticipated change in the
current arrangements. Secretary commented that all users of Gunn’s petrol
sales facility might reduce the likelihood of its closure if they did not ask
for credit and made cash purchases.

Out-of-Hours G.P. Services

Members were unhappy with
the reported unwillingness of Argyll and Clyde NHS to discuss with the Primary
Care practice and the Lismore Community the possible future arrangements for
out-of-hours cover in the event of the Port Appin practice doctors opting out.
No such opting out is currently threatened but members felt that discussions on
contingency arrangements should be held.

Further consideration of
this matter would be postponed to the next meeting, prior to which the Secretary
and Chair would draft a letter to Argyll and Clyde NHS for consideration by
members.

Correspondence

Chair
had received a letter from Barbara MacDougall advising of Barbara’s retirement
from her position as island Registrar. Barbara understood that from 01.01.05 all
Lismore registrations would have to be made in Oban.

Agreed
that a letter of appreciation for her service to the community should be sent to
Mrs. MacDougall.

Members
regretted the decision of A&BC not to seek to appoint a new Registrar on
Lismore and instructed Secretary to write to the Council accordingly.

Secretary
had received, via John Livingstone, minutes of a recent meeting of the North
Argyll Health Forum. Some other Community Councils were represented on the Forum
and it was agreed that a request be made to Moira Newiss for LCC to be invited
to attend future meetings.

Notice
had been received from Argyll CVS of the appointment of Peter Minshall as its
new Chief Executive.

Notice
received from A&BC that a planning appeal had been lodged against the
Council’s refusal of planning permission for Plots 1, 2 and 3 at Clachan. LCC
had not made any meaningful representations on the original applications and it
was agreed that no further action was required.

Secretary
noted an number of items of information gleaned from the November newsletter of
the Association of A&B Community Councils, amongst which were indicative
dates in relation to the forthcoming Community Council elections, viz.

Last date for Notice of Election 02.02.05

Close of nominations 16.02.05

Last date for withdrawals 18.02.05

Notice of Poll 21.02.05

Date of Election 07.04.05

Secretary
had submitted a response, prepared in consultation with Chair and our GPs, to
the consultation paper on the provision of air ambulance services from April
2006.

Advice
received from Strathclyde Police that Ciorstan Shearer had been appointed as
Chief Inspector at Oban in succession to David Stewart.

George
Lyon had indicated that he had written to Argyll and Clyde NHS in support of
LCC’s submission on the Clinical Strategy.

A
response had been received from A&BC to LCC’s letter concerning household
collections of paper and cardboard for recycling. An assurance was provided that
it is intended to include Lismore in this service, which is anticipated to
commence during the summer of 2005.

Other Business

Secretary to write to A&BC
about 3 or 4 trees which are growing in or too near the walls to the cemetery
and so are endangering the stability of the wall.

Chair reported on the
inclusion of Lismore in the Better Neighbourhood Scheme, which is designed to
help the more elderly members of the community to continue to live in their own
homes by providing a range of support services. The inclusion of Lismore results
from insistent requests by Councillor Robertson. 2 part-time outreach workers
will be appointed to work on the island under the general supervision of the
Nurse Practitioner, and a wheelchair accessible vehicle will be provided. The
scheme is expected to be up and running on Lismore by 01.04.05.

Dates for Next Meeting

The next meeting was to be
held at 19.00 on
Thursday 20 January 2005
.

Please note that this
date has since been amended to 19.00 on Wednesday 19 January 2005 to enable attendance by Councillor Robertson.